5α-androstano [3,2-b]pyridines, 5α-androstano[17,16-b]pyridines and androst-4 and 5-eno[17,16-b]pyridines

A new synthesis of 5α-androstano[3,2-b]pyridin-17β-ol acetate (VIa) and 17-methyl-5α-androstano[3,2-b]pyridin-17β-ol (VIb), first reported by Shimizu, Ohta, Ueno, and Takegoshi, was achieved. The analogous 5α - androstano[17,16-b]pyridin-3β-ol (XII), 5α-androstano[17,16-b]pyridin-3-one (XIVa), and androst-4-eno[17,16-b]pyridin-3-one (XIVb) were also prepared. An illustration of the method follows. Condensation of 3β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one (VIIa) with 3-(2-furyl)acrolein afforded 16-[3-(2-furyl)-2-propenylidene]-3β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one (VIIIa), the oxime (IXa) of which was thermally cyclized to 5α-androstano[17,16-b]-6′-(2-furyl)pyridin-3β-ol (Xa). 3β-Hydroxy-5α-androstano[17,16-b]pyridine-6′-carboxylic acid (XI) was obtained by ozonolysis of Xa. Thermal decarboxylation of XI gave XII. Cinnamaldehyde was used in place of 3-(2-furyl)acrolein to give the corresponding phenylpyridines.